Hammer holster



y 21, 1968 J. J. HODELKA 3,384,277

HAMMER HOLSTER Filed July 14, 1966 4 INVENTOR. 22 JOSEPH J. HODE'LKA United States Patent 3,384,277 HAMMER HOLSTER Joseph J. Hodelka, Rte. 4, Box 160, Fort Myers, Fla. 33905 Filed July 14, 1966, Ser. No. 565,220 2 Claims. (Cl. 224-) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A holster for supporting a hammer, handle upward, from the rear pocket of a workmans trousers. A sheath which receives the head of the hammer is afiixed to the lower end of a rigid backing plate. A spring steel, handle retaining clip is attached to the backing plate above the sheath. A second rigid plate, which is inserted into the rear pocket, is attached to the upper edge of the backing plate.

Background of the invention This invention relates to tool holsters adapted to be worn by a workman and, more particularly, to an improved hammer holster.

Of all the carpenters tools, the conventional claw hammer is used (and set aside) more frequently than any other. Consequently, it is very desirable to carry the hammer in a holster worn on the body. The most well-known hammer holster is a simple loop, through which the handle of the hammer is slipped such that the hammer hangs, handle downward, from the workmans belt. Unfortunately, the simple loop holster does not retain the hammer against swinging and is awkward to use. Both of these disadvantages become increasingly annoying over an extended period of use. Moreover, the hammer has a tendency to slip from a simple loop holster when the workman is in a crouched position.

Summary of the invention It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved holster for conveniently and securely retaining a hammer, hatchet, or similar impact tool having a weighted head aflixed to the end of an elongated handle.

As contemplated by the present invention, the tool is retained head downward, the weighted head being held in a sheath. According to a further feature of the invention, means rigidly attached to the sheath are employed for holding the handle in an upright position. Preferably, both the sheath and the handle retaining means are attached to a rigid backing which is, in turn, supported from the rear pocket of the workmans trousers. The novel holster according to the invention is extremely easy to use. The hammer is merely pivoted into a locked position within the holster where it is securely and safely retained until needed. A reverse pivotal motion quickly frees the hammer from the holster. The position of the hammer in its holster enables the workman to work freely without interference from the hammer.

These and other objects, features and advantages will become more apparent through a consideration of the following detailed description. In the course of this description, reference will frequently be made to the attached drawings.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a perspective drawing showing a hammer holster embodying the principles of the invention and illustrating the manner in which the holster is supported from the rear pocket of the workmans trousers;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of a preferred hammer holster embodying the invention;

3,384,277 Patented May 21, 1968 "ice FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of the hammer holster shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the holster taken along the line 44 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an end cross-sectional view of the holster taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the details of the handle retaining clip taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2.

Description 0 the preferred embodiment FIGURE 1 shows a hammer holster embodying the principles of the invention supported from a rear pocket indicated generally at 12 of a pair of workmans trousers. The holster comprises a rigid backing indicated generally at 14 upon which are afi'ixed a sheath portion indicated generally at 16 and a handle retaining clip indicated generally at 18. The sheath 16 is shaped to receive the Weighted head 20 of a conventional claw hammer such that the handle 22 of the hammer extends upwardly and is held in place by the clip 18. The rigid backing 14 may be constructed of fiberboard, or the like, and is afiixed at its upper end to a second rigid member 24 which is inserted into the rear pocket 12. A projecting knob 25 is afiixed to an upper corner of backing 14.

FIGURE 2 of the drawings illustrates the manner in which the hammer is inserted into and removed from the holster. The sheath indicated generally at 16 includes a pocket 26 into which the nail-driving end 28 of the hammer head 2%) is inserted. The pocket 26 is enclosed by a cover section 30 which engages with the end 28 of the head 20 to prevent clockwise pivotal movement of the hammer. The lower, supporting surface of the sheath 16 includes an arcuate section 31 which conforms with the curved claw 32 of the hammer. The arcuate section 31 of the floor of the sheath 16 facilitates entry of the head into the sheath as the hammer is inserted into the holster. The clip 18 engages with the handle 22 and prevents counterclockwise pivotal motion of the hammer and retains the handle 22 flush against the rigid backing 14. The retaining clip 18 is preferably constructed of spring steel and prevents the movement of handle 22 in any direction except through the entryway to the left (movement in this direction is prevented by the cover section 30 of the sheath 16). Thus, while the hammer is securely retained within the holster, it may be easily removed by lifting the hammer upward while, at the same time, pivoting the hammer in a counterclockwise direction as shown by the phantom lines of FIGURE 2. The projecting knob 25 facilitates removal of the hammer by marking the position where the fingers are to be placed for pivoting action. In addition, knob 25 provides a fulcruming buttress which counteracts with the pressure applied by the thumb to provide the pivotal movement required to release the hammer.

The rigid member 24 which is inserted into the rear pocket may include a pair of holes indicated generally at '37 in FIGURE 3. The holes 37 permit the passage therethrough of a pair of rubber buttons 38 (shown in cross-section in FIGURE 3). The interaction of the buttons 38 and the openings 37 provide an excellent friction grip with the cloth which forms the pocket into which the member 24 is inserted. The resiliency of flat member 24 forces the cloth against the buttons 38, depressing the cloth into the openings 37. The combination of the sliding friction contributed by the rubber buttons 38 and the bending of the cloth around the buttons 38 creates a very secure grip between the holster and the pocket.

It is to be understood that the embodiment of the invention which has been described is merely illustrative of one application of the principles of the invention. Numerous modifications may be made by those skilled What is claimed is: 1. A hammer holster comprising, in combination,

a flat, rigid backing plate adapted to be positioned upright and having a lower end portion, means defining a sheath opening upwardly and afiixed to the lower end portion of said backing plate for receiving the head of the hammer and for supporting said hammer with its handle extending upwardly adjacent said backing plate,

a cover section cooperating with a portion of the sheath and backing plate to define a pocket for receiving an end of the hammers head and for parmer against accidental dislodgement from the holster, and

an outwardly projecting fulcrum buttress on the backing plate spaced above said handle retaining member and spaced to the side thereof opposite to the said direction of projection of the free end of the arm, so that said buttress is spaced from the hammers handle when the hammer is holstered but being positioned to be engaged by the hammers handle as the hammer is pivoted to move the head thereof along said generally arcuate path during the act of removing the hammer head from both the sheath and pocket.

2. A holster as set forth in claim 1 including means tially restricting said upward opening of said sheath for limiting the upward movement of said hammer, the arrangement of upwardly opening sheath and pocket with cover section requiring movement of the hammers head along a generally arcuate path both for entry and withdrawal of an end of the hammer head in said pocket, and

a handle retaining member rigidly mounted in a fixed position on said backing plate above said sheath, said retaining member including an elongated, resilient arm having a free end spaced from said backing plate and projecting longitudinally from the fixed mounting on the backing plate in a direction generalfor supporting said rigid backing plate from a rear pocket of a pair of trousers, said means including a fiat, rigid, pocket-entering member resiliently affixed adjacent the upper end of the rigid backing plate and adapted to be separated from the backing plate to receive a pocket flap therebetween, said pocket-entering member having apertures therein, and projections on said backing plate positioned to normally extend through the apertures in the pocket-entering member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1y opposite to the direction of movement of the ham- 1365190 1/1921 Perkms' mers head upon its entry into the said pocket, said 1750891 3/1930 Jlmgemann 224-52 arm being resiliently biased toward the backing plate 2,881,492 4/1959 Aspes 224 5-2 and adapted to move away from the backing plate 2956715 10/1960 Henderson 224 5-2 to receive a hammers handle between the arm por- 31OO1590 8/1963 Bohlsen 224-52 tion and backing plate when the hammer is bolstered, so that said arm biases the hammers handle against the backing plate to hold the ham- GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

R. J. SPAR, Assistant Examiner. 

